Mubarak To Transfer Ruling Authority Today

FOX News is reporting that Hosni Mubarak will transfer authority today to the Egyptian Higher Council of the Armed Forces. The transfer will occur outside the bounds of the Egyptian constitution, which otherwise would have the speaker of the house ascend to the presidency. The military council will “not be governing under the Constitution or any legislation,” and it is not expected that outgoing President Hosni Mubarak will be prosecuted.

The group is comprised of the minister of defense, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi — who stands atop the military hierarchy — along with the military’s chief of staff, the chief of operations, and commanders of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Air Defenses…

The source compared the change to the 1952 coup and the removal of King Faroukh, noting that it took six months before the monarchy was dissolved and the modern republic formed. And blame for the quick change was attributed to the United States…

The official said the “constant requests for more measures, to be undertaken more quickly, more rapidly … the constant push” and “lack of recognition” for the reform measures being undertaken in good faith all conspired to create a “national consensus” in Egypt that forced Mubarak’s ouster.

“They did not give too much room for the (reform) process to move forward,” the official said of the Obama administration.